Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Infrared

Chapter 37 (Old): Downfall!

Socarrat Trail

Three years earlier

Socarrat Trail next to Casseroya Lake was Celebi's favorite place to head to whenever it returned from another trip through time. Its peaceful, fall-like atmosphere was joyful to fly through because Celebi felt wide open and free. While it played, it peered past Socarrat's trees and admired the sparkling water of Casseroya Lake. Somehow, it never grew tired of it.

Celebi flew over the trail's tall, dry grass and waved at a few tree-like Pokémon, Sudowoodo.

They hustled away when it got too close and kicked up dirt and dust with their little, round feet.

Celebi went to one of the pine tree-like trees in the area. It was the tallest, fattest one in the bunch and housed clusters of small, red berries.

"Bi," Celebi said, plucking one of the berries from the branches. It sniffed it and then popped it into its mouth. Its sweet yet sour taste melted on the Pokémon's tongue like butter. "Bi, bi, bi!" it cheered.

Celebi picked a few more berries. It kicked them up with its feet and caught them in the old chops, not missing a single one. It stopped playing when it suddenly heard sniffing down below.

Celebi landed on one of the tree's branches and walked to its edge. It pushed leaves out of its face and soon overlooked a small pond not far from the plant.

Professor Turo sat at the pond's edge, his head buried in his knees. "It's not fair!" he cried out.

"Bi?" Celebi said, intrigued. It wasn't very often that a human came to Socarrat Trail. Why was he so sad, though?

Celebi snapped another berry off one of the tree's twigs. With it in hand, it flew to the pond and snuck up on Turo from behind.

"I was right there!" he yelled at the Magikarp watching him from the pond's surface. "I could have saved her!"

Uh oh, it sounded like this human just witnessed a death. Perhaps Celebi could cheer him up? It tossed the berry to one of its hands and touched Turo's shoulder with its free one.

"Huh?" he questioned, removing his palms from his splotchy face. He rubbed his eyes and turned his head.

"Bi," Celebi said, a smile on its face.

"It's a Celebi," Turo observed. "What are you doing here, little guy?" For some reason, Celebi's presence comforted him.

"Bi." Celebi offered Turo its berry. When he accepted it, it held its hands in front of it.

"Mmm," Turo said, as the berry's sweet and sour taste overtook his own mouth. "That's good. Thank you, little guy."

"Bi!" Celebi flew in circles around his head. It moved out of the way when he stood and brushed off his lab coat.

"I don't know what to do," he told the Pokémon. "I have a son, and I can't face him. Not like this."

"Who died?" Celebi inquired telepathically. "Maybe I can help."

Turo hid behind his fingers. "I was just trying to bring her flowers when that blasted Pokémon killed her!" His legs shook under him. "The worst thing is, it was all her fault! Argh!" He kicked a rock into the pond, and at once, the Magikarp scattered.

"Hey, hey." Celebi patted Turo's shoulder again. "Come with me. I know what you need." A trip to the future always helped it feel better when it was down.

Celebi closed its eyes. Its magic outlined Turo in a soft, green glow. Opening them, it lifted him into the sky and escorted him toward Socarrat's treetops.